Fresno State’s science/math medalist wants to inspire first-generation students
Growing up in Modesto, Samantha Patricia Navarro constantly heard from friends and family that she should become a doctor.
“It was something I thought about, but once I entered junior college I started thinking that I would want to help other students, like first-generation students,” said Navarro, who earned her master’s in psychology from Fresno State on Friday (May 19).
Navarro was recognized as the dean’s medalist from the College of Science and Mathematics during the commencement ceremony at the Save Mart Center.
The Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholar plans to enter a cognitive psychology doctoral program in preparation for becoming a professor.
“It is clear she has an impactful career ahead that will inspire others,” said Christopher Meyer, dean of the College of Science and Mathematics.
Navarro graduated with a 4.0 GPA, co-authored a manuscript that was published in the Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, and earned a best teaching assistant award in 2021-22. She is also an intern at the Central Valley Health Policy Institute.
“Samantha is a remarkably productive scholar,” added Meyer.
Inspire others is what Navarro hopes to achieve, especially to those who are like her: First-generation Latinos whose parents came from México with little education.
Her tutor, Aaron Sánchez, at Mark Twain Junior High School in Modesto, introduced her on how to get into college.
“He was always very supportive, and he helped me through junior high school and high school as well,” said Navarro. He even stayed in touch when she was at Modesto Junior College and UC Merced.
He provided her with scholarship opportunities, inquire about how classes were going, and even met with her parents to explain “how important it was for me to continue on and obtain higher education.”
Her parents, Guillermo Ramírez Navarro and Claudia Patricia Torres, didn’t know much about her college studies but with time have understood enough to ask about her thesis.
Her dad, who is originally from Michoacán, works for Foster Farms. Her mother, from Jalisco, sorts at a recycling facility. Both have worked in the fields.
“It’s kind of hard to explain to them what it is that I do research in,” said Navarro. “At first, they were just happy that I was getting my master’s at Fresno State.”
Now, they are asking questions about her thesis.
“What do you specifically look at? What does this mean? What does that mean?” they inquire.
“Now that I’m graduating, they’re like, ‘Oh, that’s really cool,’” said Navarro, whose interest in psychology developed when she took an introductory college level psychology course in high school.
“I learned about famous ones like Phineas Gage and Elizabeth Loftus and their studies,” said Navarro. “I thought that would be something I’m interested in. I would be interested in doing research, like having participants come into a lab and running experiments.”
At Fresno State, Navarro conducted research in Dr. Paul Price’s judgment and reasoning lab and presented at conferences.
Navarro won the CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement, the system’s highest recognition of student achievement.
Higher education wasn’t a smooth ride for Navarro. While at UC Merced, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a 3.41 GPA. She graduated from Modesto Junior College with a 3.14 GPA.
She was working part-time, including two jobs while at UC Merced, that took away time to study. Navarro was helping her mother with the bills.
She wants to continue research and remain in the Valley, perhaps as a college professor.
Samantha Patricia Navarro’s favorites
Book: ‘The Giver,’ by Lois Lowry.
Meal or food: “I would probably say something that my mom makes me. Probably chicken flautas.
Place to visit: “National parks, specifically Sequoia National Forest.”
Music: Jazz music.
Movie: ‘The Giver’
Hobby: Collect and grow plants.
Best advice received: “Probably from my mentor Aaron Sánchez where he told me, ‘It’s not how long it takes you to do it, it’s that you do it.’”
